Charles seller



(No Model.)

' o SEILER. COMBINED BET-URN BALL AND GAP SNAPPBR.

No. 358,487. Patented Mar. 1, 1887.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES SEILER, OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO S. A. AND S. O. HASELTINE, OF SAME PLACE.

COMBINED RETURN-BALL AND CAP-SNAPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,487, dated March 1,1887.

Application filed November 27, 1885. Serial No. 184,028. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GHARLns SEILER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Greene and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Combination of a Return- Ball and Gap-Snapper; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in the combination of a return-ball and cap-snapper, the object of which is to provide a cheap, sim- [5 ple, durable, and convenient device for snapping caps on a return-ball whilethe ball is in the air, and one that will afford amusement.

. These objects I attain by means of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

'20 forming a part of this specification, in which Figure l is a view of the ball with the cap attached ready to be thrown from the hand Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the """into the air.

device.

2 -Si1nilar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

A is a ball, made of any suitable material, preferably of wood, and through which a hole, a, is made, said hole being preferably made 0 with shoulders a and c The shoulder a is made long enough to support the lower end of a coil, B, which is placed around the hammer- ,-rod O, and is for the purpose of pushing the hammenrod out. One end of said spring rests 3 5 upon the shoulder a, and the other end rests against the back side of the hammer-head c. The shoulder a is made broad enough to support a washer, D. Said washer serves for the notch c in the hammerrod to catch on when the hammer is drawn back.

0 is a hammer-rod having a head, 0, said head being preferably made larger than the rod, and having a shoulder, c, for the spring B to rest against, and a flat surface on its face for snapping the cap. The rod 0 is preferably made with a notch, c, to serve as a catch when drawn back over the edge of the washer D. The rod 0 is also preferably provided with an eye, 0 for thepurpose'of receiving a ring, E,

to serve for the attachment of a cord for drawing the spring back.

F is a cord, made of any suitable material, preferably of rubber, and serves to bring the ball back to the hand after it has been thrown.

G is a clasp or plate, made of any suitable 5 5 material, preferably of iron, and is attached at its ends to the sides of the ball A by any suitable means, preferably by means of screws 71, and has its ends set into the sides of the ball, so that they will be on a level with the sur- 6o face of the same and its center be over the center of the face of thehammer, or of the hole a. The clasp G is preferably made the same size as the face of the hammer, so as .to snap a cap easily, and the cap is held in place byany suitable means, preferably by being pressed under the head of a clip, I.

My invention is operated by drawing the hammerrod back by means of the ring E, so that the notch 0 will engage the washer D. Then the cap is adjusted under the head of clip I, so that it will be under the center of the clasp G. The loose end of the cord or string F is fastened to the hand, and the ball thrown with the hammer-rod from the hand, and when it reaches the end of the string or cord the cord throws the notch off of the washer, and the head of the hammer is thrown out against the cap and the clasp G by means of the coil-spring B, and the cap is exploded by the stroke.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a combined return-ball and cap-snap- 5 G, at one end of the passage a, and a cord attached to the hammer-bar for tripping the same, all combined as set forth.

8. I11 a combined return-ball and cap-snap per, a ball, A, having a spring-actuated hammer-rod carried in a passage, (1, extending the ball, an anvil-plate at the end of the pastherethrough, a clip, I, for securing it cap at sage opposite the hammer-head, and an elastic one end of such passage, and an anvil-plate cord attached to the hammer-rod for tripping :5 covering the same, a notch on the hammerthe same and returning the ball, all combined 5 red, a detent for holding the same retracted, as set forth.

and a cord for tripping the hammer and re- In testimony whereof I affix mysignaturein turning the ball, all combined as set forth. presence of two witnesses.

4. In a combined return-ball and ca )-suapt e per having a passage, to, extending there- CHARLES SEILER' 10 through, a rod, 0, having a striking head, 0, \Vitnesses:

a coiled operating-spring compressed between JOSEPH WILLS, such head and inwardly-extending lugs a in C. F, CHESTER. 

